Recognizing that the task of those who teach the humanities is now to identify the common ground on which persons can gather to make responsible judgments about the quality of life in light of past traditions and the competing demands of the future, this collection of essays explores the changing definition of humanistic studies and their current…

The origins and design of a framework for Japanese second language instruction and curriculum development, created for use in international schools in Japan, are described. The effort was part of a Japanese Language Project undertaken by the Japanese Council for International Schools and funded by the Japanese Ministry of Education. The guiding…

A discussion on content-based second/foreign language instruction reviews recent literature, extracts elements of content-based instruction (CBI) felt to be critical, looks at those elements from the perspective of Japanese university instruction, and poses some questions that CBI program developers might ask before proceeding. Various kinds of…

An examination of translation and conference interpretation as well-established academic professions focuses on how they should be taught in order to maintain the integrity of the two professions and the highest standards in their exercise. An introductory section answers the question, "Can translation and interpretation be taught?,"…

Since the 1980s, several major trends have impelled educators to make especially significant changes to the K-12 curriculum in the various subject areas. Calls to provide students with "authentic" and interdisciplinary learning experiences, upgrade standards, and help all students achieve at a high level are affecting curriculum content…

The content and materials of cultural instruction in elementary school second language courses are discussed. First, the availability of such materials is examined, and a model for deciding what to teach is presented. Four factors are included in this model: students' first language proficiency and the transfer of skills to the second language;…

The guide provides a model for Japanese second language curriculum development for teachers and school districts. It advocates an approach that emphasizes language proficiency for daily communication and cultural appreciation. An introductory section offers a rationale for teaching and learning Japanese, outlines the need for the guide, presents a…

This guide, "a work in progress," is one of a series designed to serve as companion documents for the New York state learning standards defined for each major curriculum area. It is intended to establish a connection between the state-mandated learning standards and classroom instruction and to further elaborate on the standards that…

Describes a St. Olaf College (Minnesota) seminar on German- Americana, and suggests ways in which instructors in other areas of the country can create a course reflecting local experience. The course, taught in German, offers information about the broad spectrum of German language and German immigrant life in the United States. A dozen goals of…

This guide describes step-by-step the decisions necessary for designing a curriculum for learning world languages. There are eight chapters in four parts. Part 1, "Creating Curriculum," includes: (1) "Introduction to Wisconsin's Standards for Learning World Languages" (e.g., the vision of Wisconsin's standards); (2)…

Points out three areas that the American engineering community must consider related to global competition: technology, languages, and cultural understanding. Several American and foreign universities' efforts to include the topics in their programs are examined. (MVL)

Education Secretary Bennett reports on specific problems in the nation's educational system and defines curriculum goals in the following areas: reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, cultural literacy, the arts, foreign languages, and health and physical education. Appended are 27 footnotes. (IW)

This booklet presents basic issues and recommendations of a Nevada legislative task force on the establishment of courses in American Sign Language (ASL) for credit as a foreign language in the public schools and institutions of higher education. An introductory section, "American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Issues and Answers: A Basic…

Because of the concern about declining German second language enrollments in the United States, there is a need for enhanced cultural education in the second language curriculum. Current global circumstances, including an increasingly multicultural society and widespread need for intercultural communicative competence, not just grammatical…

Business Japanese should be the study of Japanese language and culture for business communication and should include values and beliefs and institutional constraints on which the Japanese act as well as business etiquette and terminology. Topics to be covered in instruction will vary depending on the role (seller, buyer, or colleague) played by…